London American is the king of UK record labels with hundreds of early US rock and roll records being released on the label in the late fifties and early sixties. For the first few years (up to 1960) Decca group released one sided demos in small quantities and some of the more obscure London records are more common in this form than in the stock copy version. I came across this Fats Domino demo at a car boot the other day, which prompted me to feature a selection of my favourite one sided London demos this time on the blog.
1. Fats Domino - What's the reason I'm not pleasing you. This was the B side of Blue Monday which was issued on London 8377 in 1957.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3poXkCOiL7s
2. Little Richard - Ooh My Soul. Classic Richard - issued on London 8647 in 1958. B side is True Fine Mama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zxESS3djI
3. Jack Scott - With Your Love. Jack's second UK single, released on London 8765 in 1958. B side is Geraldine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFEL5hzvt-g
4. Titus Turner - We Told You Not To Marry. Noted songwriter and R & B singer, this was recorded for King and is an answer song to Lloyd Price's I'm Gonna Get Married. Released in 1960 on London 9024. B side is Taking Care of Business.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nE4vjWHNOg
5. Bobby Comstock and the Counts - Jambalaya. White rock and roller Bobby was best known for Tennessee Waltz and Let's Stomp. Here he is on the Cajun classic, released in 1960 on London 9080. B side is Let's Talk It Over.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW5MLDinAlM
6. Billy Bland - Sweet Thing. Wrongly attributed to Bobby 'Blue' Bland, this was the B side to Let The Little Girl Dance released on London 9096 in 1960.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Daaen-hl_ew
7. Jessie Hill - Ooh Poo Pah Doo. This slice of New Orleans R and B was Jessie's biggest hit and kept him in business until his death in 1996. It was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's studio and produced by Allen Toussaint. Released on London 9117 in 1960, this is Part One. Fortunately I've also got Part Two, also on a one sided demo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVySGO8Ak_Q
8. Etta James - Tough Mary. This great R and B number is the B side of Etta's first UK release - All I Could Do Was Cry - released on London 9139 in 1960.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud_snr3yNf0
9. Shirley and Lee - Let The Good Times Roll. This is a more uptempo version of Shirley and Lee's Aladdin hit of 1956, recorded for Warwick and is almost equally good in my opinion. Released on London 9209 in 1960. B side is Keep Loving Me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h19U5Uz5r-k
2 Comments:
Some great rare one-siders there. I don't have any of these at all. Very much like the typo on the Billy Bland 45 - I wonder how many DJ's gave out the wrong name! Will list a few of mine on facebook and put a link to your site too.
Cheers
John S
Thanks John. Other one sided London demos that I've got include Billy Ward & the Dominos - Stardust (8465), John Zacherle - Dinner with Drac (8599), Nu Tornados - Philadephia USA (8756), Duane Eddy - The lonely one (8827), Bud & Travis - Bonsour dame (8965), Jerry Keller - Lovable (8980), Ralph De Marco - Old Shep (9010), Skieks - Little French doll (9012), Johnny & the Hurricanes - Time bomb (9017), Bobby Freeman - Ebb tide (9031), Buddy Brennan - Big river/The chase (9049), Sonny James - Passin' through (9156), Bill Black's Combo - Josephine (9156) and Fats Domino - Walkin' to New Orleans (9163).
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home